Neighborhood Leadership Academy

The Neighborhood Leadership Academy empowers South Bend residents to launch positive change in their communities.

Introduced in 2012, the Neighborhood Leadership Academy is the flagship program of the Neighborhood Resources Connection, offered in collaboration with South Bend Heritage.

The Academy is newly redesigned for 2017-18! The new Academy will apply a two-stage approach that supports newer community organizations as well as more established neighborhood associations.

“Stage 1″ — 2017 Academy

The 2017 Academy welcomes new or aspiring organizers (yes, that’s you!) as well as members of existing neighborhood associations. As a participant in this eight-session training program, you will identify issues in your community, form a team to address the issues, create an action plan to address those issues, and present your team’s plan at the conclusion of the Academy.

The 2017 Academy begins Thursday, Sept. 21. Applications are due Saturday, July 29Sunday, August 6.

“Stage 2″ — 2018 Advanced Academy

Picking up where the 2017 Academy leaves off, the 2018 Academy will support existing neighborhood leaders and 2017 Academy alumni. This next-level Academy will highlight the differences between less formal organizing groups and more formal neighborhood associations.

As a participant, you will develop the leadership skills and strategies necessary to boost your organization into a higher orbit — growing a smaller, issue-based organization into a more representative and more sustainable member-based association.